Dallas Cowboys' quarterback Tony Romo out at least 3 weeks because of surgery to remove cyst

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G.J. McCarthy/Staff Photographer

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo looks on from the sidelines after his tipped pass was recovered by Chicago Bears outside linebacker Lance Briggs for a touchdown during the second half of Dallas' 34-18 loss Monday, October 1, 2012 at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington. (G.J. McCarthy/The Dallas Morning News)

Surgery performed before April's draft; Romo expected to be 100% for training camp

Tony Romo will be held out of organized team activities the next three weeks as he recovers from a minor procedure to remove a cyst from his back, but the quarterback is optimistic he will be cleared to take part in the Cowboys mini-camp next month.

There is absolutely no question about his health for the start of training camp in July.

“If this was the regular season and I had to play next week, I could,’’ Romo said Monday night on the eve of the Cowboys first OTA of the off-season. “This is just about being smart.

“That’s why I did it now. This will have no effect on training camp. No way will it have an impact. And I still think there’s a good chance I’m on the field for mini-camp.’’

Add this to the long list of questions Romo will encounter when he meets with reporters Tuesday afternoon once the rest of his teammates complete their first OTA practice.

Romo has not spoken publicly since the six-year, $108 million contract extension he signed on March 29 made him the highest paid player in franchise history.

Since that day, Jerry Jones has repeatedly spoken of the increased involvement the quarterback will have when it comes to shaping the offense. The Cowboys owner said he expects a presence “beyond the norm’’ and is looking for, “Peyton Manning-type time on the job’’ for the $40 million he’s guaranteed Romo.

Executive vice president Stephen Jones said Romo will have more input into what happens offensively than any player since Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman.

The cyst Romo had removed won’t impact any of those bigger questions or compromise his preparation for the 2013 season.

“It was something I felt like was nagging me just enough,’’ Romo said. “I wanted to make sure to get it done now. I wanted to take care of it earlier rather than later.’’

Dr. Drew Dossett, an orthopedic surgeon, performed the procedure in April before the NFL draft. His wife, Candice, drove him to the procedure in the morning and picked him up early that afternoon. Romo fed and played with his young son, Hawkins, shortly after he got back home.

“It was a pretty routine afternoon,’’ Romo said. “I was back at the (Cowboys) complex the next day to go through what we would do in the teaching sessions and the throwing sessions this off-season.’’

Romo was restricted to some light conditioning work the remainder of April. He responded by upping his film work. His conditioning work has increased steadily in recent days and he has been cleared to throw the ball.

Romo will throw off to the side during OTA’s the next three weeks but won’t take part in team drills. Backup Kyle Orton will take his snaps.

There was no, one incident that led to the visit that resulted in this diagnosis of the cyst. Romo said there was no lingering injury from the season. It wasn’t like he tweaked his back while throwing the ball or felt a twinge when he was running or in the weight room during the off-season.

It was simply a persistent ache that developed in the middle of his back. He wanted to make sure whatever it was wouldn’t linger into training camp and hinder his ability to prepare for the 2013 season.

“It was not much of anything,’’ Romo said. “I just went in and had them look at it. It was more of an ache than anything. I just thought, ‘well, it’s something I’d rather not feel.’

“I’d rather be 100 percent, not 96 percent. It’s done and it’s made me feel better.’’

Again, Romo hopes to take part in the team’s mini-camp June 12-14. If he doesn’t, that’s likely a call by Cowboys officials who don’t see the need for him to participate as a precaution.

Vice president of public relations Rich Dalrymple said the club would have no comment at this time.

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